Our opposition to the "stimulus" packages,
including the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"
07 August 2009
Our principles don't have a price
Some people say that everyone can be bought, that everyone has a price. We don’t believe that. If we had taken the money, in spite of our principles, we would know that we did have a price.
In 2008, my wife and I received a check from the government for $900. We thought, "Huh. That's weird," but promptly stuck it in the bank and went about our lives.
In 2009, the government gave us another $768. By this time we knew more about what was going on: the government was giving us someone else's money and telling us to spend it! We refused. Instead, we gave the money back. On 10 April 2009, we went to the IRS in Tacoma, Washington, and gave them a check for $1668. They had never encountered that kind of situation. Initially, they asked if we wanted to donate the money instead. We told them that it wasn't our money to donate. Eventually figured out what to do: they sent the money back into the account from which it came and put a hold on our account so the money would not be direct-deposited again.
This blog states why we did it. If you disagree, please leave a comment. More importantly though, if you agree with us, then you ought to refuse "stimulus" money also. (Our goal is not to accuse anyone, but rather to encourage open thought and thus enable others to make a change in their lives if they feel it is right.)
Incidentally, the Treasury later sent us two checks to try to give us the money again. I considered laminating them.
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